National military news

NNOA Symposium....

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 7, 2019) Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly speaks to Navy, Marine and Coast Guard officers during the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) symposium. The NNOA enhances sea service operational readiness by supporting recruiting, professional development, and retention in an effort to achieve a diverse officer corps that reflects the demographics of our nation.(U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Jason Isaacs

US, Canadian fighters intercept Russian bombers off Alaskan coast
by Corey Dickstein, Stars and Stripes
8/8/19
WASHINGTON — American and Canadian fighter jets intercepted a pair of Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers in international airspace off the coast of Alaska on Thursday, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Two U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets and two Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighters on Thursday morning intercepted the long-range, nuclear-capable Russian bombers north of Alaska over the Beaufort Sea, NORAD said in a statement. The Russian aircraft were within the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones, which stretch roughly 200 miles from the U.S. and Canadian coasts. Both nations expect aircraft entering the area to positively identify themselves in the interest of national security.
This marked the second time this month that Russian aircraft were observed in the area. NORAD said two Tu-142 Russian maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft entered the zone west of Alaska on Aug. 1, but they were not intercepted at that time.
The Russian planes never entered sovereign American or Canadian airspace in either incident, NORAD said.
Russian military aircraft flying near the United States is not uncommon. The two August incidents are the first reported by the U.S. military since May, when F-22s intercepted Russian Bear bombers and Su-35 Flanker fighters on May 20 and May 21. A similar intercept was reported in January.

Sexual assault victims given new channel during reporting to catch repeat offenders
8/5/2019
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will begin implementing the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Catch a Serial Offender (CATCH) program as a means to identify serial sexual assault offenders, Aug. 5.
Participation in the CATCH program is voluntary, and allows a sexual assault victim who files a restricted report to confidentially submit information about his or her alleged offender with the goal of matching similar data from other cases.
When a potential match is identified, a specially-trained CATCH victim point of contact will privately notify the victim and give him or her the option to convert the initial restricted report to an unrestricted report, allowing the victim to participate in the investigation.
Melissa Cohen, director of the Navy Sexual Assault and Prevention Office, said CATCH is a vital step in the mission to end sexual assault. “This is part of a multi-faceted approach aimed at holding offenders accountable,” she said.
Victims of sexual assault should contact their respective Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate to make a report in the CATCH program. CATCH program participants will receive personal, anonymous, and secure login information to electronically enter their information directly into the CATCH database. The victim may decline to participate in the process at any stage, even after being contacted that there was a match to information they provided in CATCH. There will be no adverse consequences if the victim does not agree to participate.
Those eligible to participate in the CATCH program are adult sexual assault victims who have filed a restricted report, including current and former service members and their adult dependents. Naval Academy midshipmen are also eligible for the CATCH program.
For more information on the program, contact the DoD Safe Helpline via phone at 1-877-995-5247 or online at SafeHelpline.org.

USS America, USS New Orleans to forward deploy to Japan; USS Stethem, USS Wasp return to U.S.
SASEBO, Japan - The Navy announced recently that amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and landing platform dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) will become part of the U.S. 7th Fleet forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) in Sasebo, Japan. Guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) will shift its homeport to San Diego for its midlife modernization and amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) will shift its homeport to Norfolk to undergo scheduled maintenance.
Read more...

Family PCS travel flexibility
expanded
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy has expanded the eligible categories for advanced dependent travel (ADT) and delayed dependent travel (DDT), personnel officials announced in September.
For permanent change of station (PCS) moves within the 50 states, the policy allows for dependent travel of up to six months before or after the sponsoring Sailor’s PCS move in the following situations: spousal employment or education, dependents in elementary or secondary school (K-12), dependent enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, or caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness. The previous approved policy that allowed DDT for the length of the school year is unchanged by this expansion.
For moves from the 50 states to overseas locations, only DDT will be authorized. For moves from overseas locations to the 50 states, only ADT will be authorized.
Sailors will only receive one housing allowance, either for their location or their dependent’s location, under delayed or advance travel. Sailors or dependents may be assigned government quarters if available, but may not displace a member or dependent in government housing.
Requests for DDT or ADT must be submitted to Navy Personnel Command (PERS-451).
For information and answers to questions on this policy, email NXAG_N130C@navy.mil.



SoCal military news
ARABIAN GULF (July 31, 2019) Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) lift an RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system (UAS) onto a launcher before flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26). The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Dublinske.

Future San Diego ship
Navy announces commissioning date for the future USS Cincinnati
7/25/2019
From Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
CINCINNATI, Ohio (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy has approved the commissioning date for the future littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20).
The Navy will commission Cincinnati, Oct. 5, 2019 in Gulfport, Mississippi. The commissioning ceremony signifies the acceptance for service and the entrance of a ship into the active fleet of the U. S. Navy.
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is the ship's sponsor. As the sponsor, Pritzker leads the time-honored Navy tradition of giving the order during the ceremony to “man our ship and bring her to life!” At that moment, the commissioning pennant is hoisted and Cincinnati becomes a proud ship of the fleet.
Indianapolis, Indiana native Cmdr. Kurt Braeckel is the commanding officer of the littoral combat ship.
Former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced LCS 20 would be named for Cincinnati at the Cincinnati Reds baseball game, July 19, 2015.
LCS 20 will be the fifth ship in naval history to be named Cincinnati. The first played an integral part in the Civil War; the second enforced neutrality laws during the Cuban Revolution and saw service during the Spanish-American War; the third acted as a patrol and flagship during World War II; and the fourth, a Los Angeles class submarine, was commissioned in 1978 and served during the Cold War.
LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. The LCS class consists of two variants: the Freedom variant and the Independence variant. Indianapolis is a Freedom variant.
The future Cincinnati will be homeported in Naval Base San Diego upon her commissioning.
A fast, agile surface combatant, the LCS provides the required war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute a variety of missions; areas such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare.

Earthquake Damage California State Route 178 SW of Trona, following the M7.1 earthquake. Road is now closed for repairs. USGS Photo

NEX China Lake, Calif., has opened a temporary store in the wake of the two earthquakes that shook Ridgecrest, Calif., on July 4 and 5. NEX China Lake sustained damage to the ceiling tiles and flooring and merchandise was knocked off shelves in many areas of the store. The Navy Exchange Service Command is comprised of 14,000 personnel worldwide facilitating six business lines, NEX retail stores, the Navy Lodge Program, Telecommunications Program Office, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, Ships Store Program and the Uniform Program Management Office. U.S. Navy photo by NEXCOM Public Affairs.

Marines offer up to $90K in bonuses for reenlistments
The Marine Corps is offering up to $90,000 in retention bonuses for high-demand career fields, including Raiders, reconnaissance and explosive ordnance disposal, as it seeks to retain young Marines with key skills.
The selective reenlistment bonuses for FY 2020 include incentives for aviation maintenance, air traffic controllers, infantry squad leaders and Marines willing to make a lateral move to select specialties such as intelligence and cyberdefense, a command bulletin issued Friday said.
“Retaining our experienced and qualified Marines remains one of the Commandant’s highest priorities,” it said. “Achieving retention goals is vital for shaping and sustaining the Marine Corps’ enlisted force.”
Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a letter last October that the Corps needed to recruit 38,500 new members to fill gaps in the ranks.





United Through Reading®
Deploying? Service members invited to record stories for family at San Diego USO
United Through Reading® is a program helping ease the stress of separation for military families by having deploying or deployed service members read children’s books aloud via DVD for their family to watch at home. This powerful program is available to all military units. It provides service members a chance to make lasting connections from afar. The DVD recording and the book are mailed to the child and family back home.
Service members who are leaving for training can also take part in this program. Being a parent is not required; service members can send the DVD & book(s) to any special child in their life such as younger sister or brother, niece, nephew or godchild.
On the day of the recording, service members are encouraged to dress in the attire they will be wearing while deployed/training, but this is not required. The room is private, so any special message, or those fun reading voices, will only be heard by the recipient of the DVD recording. USO San Diego has books available, or service members can bring their own. Our volunteers will help set up the camera and then leave the room. The DVD can hold a 30 minute recording.
Please e-mail USO San Diego Staff Member Nichole Duarte at utr@usosandiego.org to make your appointment. This program is offered at both USO San Diego centers.